Take The A, B, C, Or G Train

This new work was created to help us honor Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington who would be celebrating his 115th birthday this spring. Born April 29, 1899, Duke Ellington was a powerful musical force throughout much of the twentieth century. Acclaimed composer, pianist, and jazz band leader, he was a unique jazz voice and a world ambassador for America's one true music.

Ellington loved music since he was a child, playing the piano as he learned the styles of the day. He heard a famous ragtime pianist while on vacation with his family in Atlantic City. From then on, he was hooked. A talented artist, Ellington turned down an art scholarship to play piano in local bands. Soon he was leading bands as he did from the early 1920s until his death in 1974.

The bands he led, for the most part, were what we now call "big bands." They usually consist of at least four trumpets, four trombones, five saxes (with the latter players often playing other woodwind instruments as well), and a rhythm section that includes piano, bass, drums, and sometimes guitar. This group evolved from the smaller dixieland bands that were popular with the jazz styles of the 1920s.

Special note - I won't do a longer biography or discussion of Ellington's music here, but we will provide a reproducible biography along with some further teaching/discussion ideas.

About our tune - As we mentioned earlier, this song is a tribute to the Duke. It is loosely based on the sound of Ellington's signature tune "Take The A Train." It uses chord changes similar to the Ellington tune, though they have to be a little simpler to accommodate the diatonic restrictions of writing for beginning recorder players.

Like the Ellington hit (which was actually composed by his long-time collaborator Billy Strayhorn), our song has an AABA form, with an added intro and ending. This is a form common to many traditional pop tunes and "standards." The B section, often called the "bridge," is based on a key center around the IV chord.

As the title implies, the recorders are required to play G, A, B, and C. But the tune is not rhythmically too difficult, and is a lot of fun to play.

Be sure to let your students hear the great recording. The players are really screaming on this tune – some of the best big band sounds we've ever gotten from our amazing musicians. And feel free to follow along on the reduced piano/recorder score, which you will also find online.